Kristine Regalado, otherwise known as “Sparrow” here at camp, has felt called to camp ministry since she was in the seventh grade. But it wasn’t until God closed some doors that she was able to find her way to Lakeview, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I heard about Lakeview from a friend who grew up here as a camper,” she said. “We were both students at Concordia Texas, and I was looking for a camp job. I had just learned that I wouldn’t be getting an offer to return to the camp I had worked at the previous summer. I reached out to Danny and Frisbee, and four weeks later, I arrived at Lakeview for a job on summer staff.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Sparrow encountered so much love, encouragement, and support through the Lakeview community that she decided to come back for Summer 2023. And since January, we’ve been thrilled to welcome her as our newest Program Assistant
“Community at Lakeview was a big part of that decision for me,” she said. “I would not be growing in my faith and growing personally the way I am today if I didn’t have these people in my life. They have a lot more to show me and teach me about camp ministry. I knew I wasn’t done learning in this place.”
Sparrow’s work as a Program Assistant is filling a dual purpose as she also is using her time here to complete a year-long DCE internship. By coordinating with Concordia Texas, a strong supporter of camp ministry workers, she was able to get Lakeview selected as the site of her year-long DCE internship. Her time here will enable her to obtain her certification as a called worker following her graduation in December 2023 from Concordia Texas. “I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in religious education, with a specialization in interpersonal communication,” she said.
Sparrow’s education will no doubt serve her well in her many roles as a Program Assistant this year. Conducting Junior Staff interviews, hosting retreats, and writing Bible studies take up a lot her time, along with all the little things needed to get camp ready for the summer.
“I know this is where I was meant to be,” she said. And while God closing the door for her to work at another camp was an act that originally broke her heart, Sparrow knows Lakeview wouldn’t have been on her radar any other way. “I wouldn’t have found a place where I can learn and grow, and I never would have met all of my new friends, if God hadn’t steered me here,” she said.
She also wouldn’t have been given her camp name, “Sparrow,” which refers to Pirates of the Caribbean, not the bird. “Everyone on Tik Tok was recreating the Captain Jack Sparrow Run,” she said, “and I thought it would be hilarious to capture Lakeview staff doing the run.” From there, “Sparrow” just seemed like the perfect fit. (And yes, the videos still exist. If you want to see Brandon, Hannah, Frisbee, and DAV doing the run, you’ll have to bribe Sparrow!)
Sparrow’s long-term goal is to serve in camp ministry full-time, whether that is at Lakeview or another camp that can be home. “I just really want to teach people about Jesus,” she said. “I don’t know what He has planned for me. I might even end up in a church someday. Wherever He sends me, I’ll be perfectly content.”
Join us in welcoming Sparrow here at Lakeview!